Last weekend was tough for the Oswego State men’s soccer team.
The Lakers were shutout in 180 minutes of SUNYAC play on Friday and Saturday, falling to SUNY New Paltz 3-0 on Friday and 6-0 to Oneonta State on Saturday.
“We need to finish more, our defense is solid enough,” sophomore defended Thomas Osborn said. “We just need to press more in the final third of the field.”
The stat-line read 10 shots on goal for the Red Dragons, but it was not due solely to the backline. The team has been unable to consistently press forward and create opportunities up top.
Possession has been heavily controlled by the opposition in the past two matches, creating more opportunities on net. The Lakers lack ability to take command in the final third of the pitch as they struggle holding the ball and creating opportunities inside of the box.
“Attack, attack, attack,” freshman forward Zack Koons said. “That needs to be our mentality moving forward.”
The freshman striker made his message clear; focus less on defending and more on putting the ball in the net. The Lakers have struggled to do so in the past 180 minutes of play as they have only registered four shots on goal, averaging only one quality shot per half of each match.
They have only been outshot by a small margin on the season, 118 to 120. The offense has been able to produce good opportunities, but struggles to finish as their opponents average 2.11 goals per game and the Lakers merely 0.78 goals per game.
“We need to press on offense,” sophomore defender RJ Nichol said. “Finishing is key in these matches.”
Missed opportunities have hurt the Lakers, as their lack of goals have kept them out of making a comeback in recent matches.
One goal in the past 540 minutes of play speaks for itself about the finishing ability of this year’s squad. In that time span, the team has had 28 shots on goal, 14 of them coming in their victory against SUNY Canton. The opportunities are there but the Lakers are struggling to capitalize and continue to put immense pressure on their defense.
Koons being the team’s leading scorer thus far this season with three goals, has definitely implied himself into opposing teams scouting reports.
“Koons is super opportunistic,” senior midfielder Mitch Brickman said. “Scoring three goals in three games, he’s always in the right place at the right time and that’s what you want out of your striker.”
The freshman has made himself a threat to teams’ defenses thus far, but he agrees that the play of the forwards, including himself, has to improve if they want to compete in the SUNYAC conference and play meaningful games come late October.
“My goal each match is simple, more goals, whatever I can do to benefit this team,” Koons said.
Goals have been the struggle so far as the Lakers have been outscored by their opponents 19-7 through nine matches. The team has been shut out five times so far, two coming against conference opponents. If these results continue, the Lakers are not going to earn themselves a bid in the conference tournament.
“We got to focus more in practice, get more intense, increase our defensive efforts and shooting,” Osborn said. “We need to do a lot more shooting for sure.”
Goals are key for the Lakers heading into this weekend. The team needs more shots, more on net and more chances that result in goals.
Possession in the final third is vital if the Lakers want to create quality opportunities for themselves and this starts from the back moving forward.
“Using outlets and creating overlapping runs with the fullbacks creates more chances,” Koons said.
Oswego State faces their biggest rival, SUNY Plattsburgh, this Friday at home. It is alumni weekend as the team looks to make their mark in the SUNYAC and obtain their first conference win.
Offense is the focus, with only seven regular season games remaining, every goal and victory becomes key for the Lakers.
